Texas Icon ‘Big Tex’ Burns to the Ground

There’s the Alamo, and then there’s Big Tex. The 52 foot icon of the Texas State Fair was completely destroyed early Friday morning in a fire at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Big Tex made his debut at the 1952 Texas State Fair and has been an icon of the event ever since.

Photo: Twitter user misselaine0375

“It’s a very sad day for all fair-goers,” fair spokeswoman Sue Gooding told Fox 4 News. “It’s a sad way to end the fair.”

Reports are saying that the fire is most likely the result of an electrical malfunction.

“There is definitely electrical in the working of Big Tex … to provide movement of the mouth and head,” Gooding said. “It would not surprise me if it did happen – if it did start with electrical.”

Big Tex was best known for his booming voice during his “live” announcements. His voice could be heard over much of the 277-acre Fair Park for up to 12 hours every day during the entire 24 day event.

“We did lose the clothes, his hat and head,” she continued. Only the skeletal structure of the icon statue remains.

Hopefully, since his skeletal structure remains, Big Tex can be rebuilt for next year’s Texas State Fair.